First CCU RoboCamp is big summer success

By Russell Alston

Coastal Carolina University awarded diplomas at a graduation ceremony for its first RoboCamp, held on Friday, June 22, at the Coastal Science Center.

During the camp, held from June 11 to 22, children from the sixth through eighth grades worked in groups to build and program Lego Mindstorm robots. Their goal was to transform a fictional, uninhabitable planet called Pantheon into a place fit for human life through a process called Terraforming. The robots were programmed to perform duties like laying pipes for water extraction and transfers, clearing debris or transporting goods from one area to another.

Each of the 27 students received a certificate for completing the camp. Other awards were given out in categories such as: stewardship, engineering notebook, go big or go home, most improved team and most ingenious solution. Also during the camp, points were accumulated for various tasks. Two teams shared that top honor.

CCU astronomy professor Louis Rubbo, one of the camp’s directors, says the goals of the camp are to promote careers in math, science, technology and engineering, as well as to help the students to develop scientific reasoning skills.

Rubbo, along with CCU professor of physics Chris Moore, hopes to continue the camp next summer and is in discussions with local middle schools about offering camps as part of an after-school program.